Publications

Noble metal nanoparticles, particularly gold and silver nanoparticles, have garnered significant attention due to their ability to manipulate light at the nanoscale through their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). While their LSPRs below 1100 nm were extensively exploited in a wide range of applications, their potential in the near-infrared (NIR) region, crucial for optical communication and sensing, remains relatively underexplored. One primary reason is likely the limited strategies available to obtain highly stable plasmonic nanoparticles with tailored optical properties in the NIR region. Herein, we synthesized AuAg nanorattles (NRTs) with tailored and narrow plasmonic responses ranging from 1000 to 3000 nm. Additionally, we performed comprehensive characterization, employing advanced electron microscopy and various spectroscopic techniques, coupled with finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations, to elucidate their optical properties. Notably, we unveiled the main external and internal LSPR modes by combining electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Furthermore, we demonstrated through surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRA) that the NRTs can significantly enhance the infrared signals of a model molecule. This study not only reports the synthesis of plasmonic NRTs with tunable LSPRs over the entire NIR range but also demonstrates their potential for NIR sensing and optical communication.

Artichoke leaf (Cynarae folium) extracts are used as traditional herbal medicinal products to treat a wide range of human ailments, being widely commercialized as nutraceutical or pharmaceutical preparations. In the current study, the hydromethanolic dried leaf extracts of Cynara scolymus L. var. major Brotero and C. scolymus L. var. redonensis N.H.F. Desp. were phytochemically and biologically investigated. The liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) metabolite profiling showed a complex composition, with phenolic acids (mostly mono- and di-caffeoylquinic acids), flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones as the most representative classes. The strong antioxidant activity of the two C. scolymus varieties was evidenced in DPPH [64.84–65.21 mg trolox equivalents (TE)/g] and ABTS (86.39–95.55 mg TE/g) radical scavenging, cupric (160.49–171.07 mg TE/g) and ferric (71.47–78.95 mg TE/g) reducing capacity, metal chelating and phosphomolybdenum assays. In addition, the two extracts also displayed anti-enzymatic effects, as assessed in cholinesterase, tyrosinase, glucosidase and amylase tests. Lastly, the artichoke samples (at the concentration of 20 μg/mL) proved a very potent inhibition of the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin (IL)-1β [7.55–15.75% of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + cells], IL-8 (11.72–13.46% of LPS + cells) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (4.07–10.35% LPS + cells), in LPS-stimulated human neutrophils. Overall, the results of our study indicate that the two C. scolymus varieties could be regarded as a rich source of biologically active compounds, opening thus the perspectives for their future large scale cultivation and valorization as bio-functional ingredients with putative antioxidant, anti-enzymatic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Agroindustry generates different types of waste every year, among which is food suitable for human consumption but without commercial value since it does not meet strict marketing parameters. In this sense, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that food losses reach 1300 million tons, 44% corresponding to fruits and vegetables. In addition, inadequate waste management becomes a problem of economic profitability and environmental sustainability. The nutritional characterization of plant matrices as well as their bioactive properties allows the design of alternative strategies for the recovery of bioactive waste molecules and their subsequent use, incorporating them back into the food chain and promoting a circular economy. Current literature affirms that legumes are rich in phenolic compounds that are recognized for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial capacity, among others, and their potential applications in food preservation and consumer health. In this study, five edible legumes not suitable for marketing—since they do not meet quality standards—were studied for their protein content (25.11–50.96%), total sugars (17.46–57.20%), total phenolic compounds (9.62–32.74 mg GAE/g sample) and minerals composition. Samples came from different geographical areas, namely: Medicago spp. (France), Phaseolus vulgaris (Spain and Argentina), Cicer arietinum (Spain), Lens culinaris (Spain) and Glycine max (United States, France and China). The nutritional characterization and quantification of the bioactive compounds of these not-suitable species reveals the convenience of their valorization in the formulation of nutraceuticals, functional foods, cosmetics or drugs, due to their potential as oxidative stress controllers, also avoiding the generation of large food waste.

The genomic causes of inbreeding depression are poorly known. Several studies have found widespread transcriptomic alterations in inbred organisms, but it remains unclear which of these alterations are causes of the depression and which are mere responses to the ensuing physiological stress induced by increased homozygosity due to inbreeding. Attempting to differentiate causes from responses, we made a c-DNA microarray analysis of inbreeding depression in Drosophila melanogaster. The rationale of the experiment was that, while depression is a general phenomenon involving reductions in fitness in different inbred lines, its first genetic causes would be different for each inbred line, as they are expected to be caused by the fixation of rare deleterious genes. We took four sets of inbred sublines, each set descending from a different founding pair obtained from a large outbred stock, and compared the expression of the three most depressed sublines and the three least depressed sublines from each set. Many changes in expression were common to all sets, but fourteen genes, grouped in four expression clusters, showed strong set-specific changes, and were therefore possible candidates to be sources of the inbreeding depression observed.

The complement system acts as a first line of defense and promotes organism homeostasis by modulating the fates of diverse physiological processes. Multiple copies of component genes have been previously identified in fish, suggesting a key role for this system in aquatic organisms. Herein, we confirm the presence of three different previously reported complement c3 genes (c3.1, c3.2, c3.3) and identify five additional c3 genes (c3.4, c3.5, c3.6, c3.7, c3.8) in the zebrafish genome. Additionally, we evaluate the mRNA expression levels of the different c3 genes during ontogeny and in different tissues under steady-state and inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, while reconciling the phylogenetic tree with the fish species tree, we uncovered an event of c3 duplication common to all teleost fishes that gave rise to an exclusive c3 paralog (c3.7 and c3.8). These paralogs showed a distinct ability to regulate neutrophil migration in response to injury compared with the other c3 genes and may play a role in maintaining the balance between inflammatory and homeostatic processes in zebrafish.

A highly versatile seed-mediated approach for the synthesis of citrate-stabilized gold, silver and palladium nanoparticles (NPs) with size control is reported. The use of iron(II) as a reducing agent enables the fabrication of monodisperse NPs in a wide range of sizes (from 15 nm to at least 120 nm (90 nm for Pd)) at room temperature. The citrate as capping ligand on the NPs surface facilitates its further surface modification with proteins and thiolated molecules.

Sonchus oleraceus Linn. is of great interest in scientific platform because it exhibits significant biological activities. This study investigated the liver protective effects and mechanism of phenolic extract from S. oleraceus (SOL) on Streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats. SOL significantly increased both superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione level, while causing a reduction of malondialdehyde level in the liver. Moreover, SOL ameliorates STZ‐induced liver function and pathological damages. Diabetic rats fed with S. oleraceus daily for 6 weeks showed significantly decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin‐1 β in the liver. Sonchus oleraceus decreased the expression levels of MyD88, TGF‐ β , and Toll‐Like Receptor (TLR)4 in the liver of diabetic rats. In conclusion, SOL possesses anti‐inflammatory activity and suppresses the TLR4/nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) p65 signaling pathway.

Cancer cell lines are valuable models for studying tumor biology, yet their genomic evolution during culture can compromise experimental reproducibility. We conducted a detailed genomic analysis of the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231-luc-GFP, examining sublines obtained from different sources, at various time points, and across distinct passages. We introduce the concept of intraline heterogeneity (ILH) to highlight the genomic variability observed among these sublines. Our analyses revealed extensive genomic diversity, including differences in single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number alterations (CNAs). In particular, CNAs exhibited remarkable heterogeneity, with pronounced chromosomal gains and losses between sublines, underscoring the impact of genomic instability on ILH. These findings suggest that ILH may influence experimental outcomes, emphasizing the importance of considering passage-specific genomic characterization to ensure consistency and reliability in cancer research.

Scope Higher flavonoid intake is associated with reduced risk of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, there is a large discrepancy in the effects of flavonoid supplementation on NAFLD. To fill such knowledge gap, we systematically reviewed randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to critically assess flavonoid supplementation effect on liver function, lipid profile, inflammation, and insulin resistance in adults with NAFLD. Methods and results A systematic search was conducted from 4 databases from inception until May 2023. Twelve RCTs were included in the final analysis demonstrating beneficial effects of flavonoids on ALT (SMD = −3.59, p = 0.034), AST (SMD = −4.47, p = 0.001), GGT (SMD = −8.70, p = 0.000), CK‐18M30 (SMD = −0.35, p = 0.042), TG (SMD = −0.37, p = 0.001), LDL‐C (SMD = −0.38, p = 0.039), TC (MD = −0.25 mmol/l, p = 0.017), steatosis score (MD = −18.97, p = 0.30), TNF‐α (MD = −0.88, p = 0.000), and NF‐κB (MD = −1.62, p = 0.001). Conclusion This meta‐analysis suggests that flavonoid alleviates NAFLD through exerting favourable effects on liver function, lipid profile, and inflammation, indicating flavonoid supplementation presents a promising drug regimen for the management of NAFLD and its associated complications.